Delhi's Winter Air Crisis: Why Pollution Gets Trapped & What's Really Choking the Capital

• Delhi's severe winter pollution is due to atmospheric trapping, not just new emissions, caused by temperature inversions and low mixing height.
• The problem is an "airshed" issue, with pollution from the Indo-Gangetic Plain contributing, not just local sources.
• While stubble burning contributes (average 22%, sometimes over 35%), Delhi's pollution is a multi-source cocktail including vehicles, dust, industry, and waste burning.
• Source apportionment studies by TERI, IIT Kanpur, and CAQM consistently identify road dust and vehicular emissions as major year-round contributors.
• Emergency measures like GRAP are temporary fixes; Delhi needs year-round structural controls and regional governance for dust management and cleaner transport.

Why It Matters: Delhi's winter air crisis is a structural problem requiring year-round controls and regional governance.